The global space industry is growing rapidly, with an increasing number of annual rocket launches. Gases and particulates are emitted by rockets directly into the middle and upper atmosphere, where the protective ozone layer resides. These emissions have been shown to damage ozone – highlighting the need for proper management of the upper atmosphere environment. We summarise the emission byproducts from rocket launches and discuss their involvement in chemical and radiative processes in the stratosphere, along with potential implications for the ozone layer due to an anticipated increase in rocket launch emissions in the future. We then present a potential vision for sustainable launches, including tractable pathways for both the aerospace industry and the ozone research community. We canvass international and domestic environmental regulation to consider how existing frameworks might be applied to rocket launches. We further identify gaps in aerospace industry practice where cooperation with environmental management and atmospheric science fields could lead to best-practise outcomes.
Envisioning a sustainable future for space launches: a review of current research and policy
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND
T. F. M. BROWN ET AL.
Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand ; 54 , 3 ; 273-289
2024-05-26
17 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
rockets , atmosphere , climate , ozone , Stratosphere , aerospace , emissions